Shloka 76

Bhāratavarṣa–Navabheda-Vyavasthā

The Nine Divisions of Bhāratavarṣa and Its Sacred Geography

Devanagari script

तमश्चांडकटाहेन सेयमुर्वी महामुने । पंचाशत्कोटिविस्तारा सद्वीपा समहीधरा

Transliteration

tamaścāṃḍakaṭāhena seyamurvī mahāmune | paṃcāśatkoṭivistārā sadvīpā samahīdharā

Translation

O great sage, this Earth is enclosed by the vast, dark cauldron of Tamasa. Its expanse measures fifty crores (of yojanas); it is complete with its continents (dvīpas) and upheld with its mountains.

Word by Word

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; with ellipsis of ‘आसीत्/अभवत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अण्ड: egg/cosmic egg
• अण्ड: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• कटाहेन: by the cauldron of the cosmic egg
• कटाहेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘अण्डकटाहेन’ = षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अण्डस्य कटाहः)

• सा: she/that
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उर्वी: earth/ground
• उर्वी: कर्ता (Karta; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘महामुनिः’ = महा + मुनि (कर्मधारय)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• कोटि: crore (ten million)
• कोटि: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• विस्तारा: having an extent of fifty crores
• विस्तारा: विशेषण (Adjective of ‘उर्वी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तारा’ = तत्पुरुष (पञ्चाशत्कोटि-प्रमाणो विस्तारः यस्याः)

• स: with
• स: विशेषण (Prefixal qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-प्राय)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय उपसर्गार्थक; समासपूर्वपद (with)

• द्वीपा: with continents/islands
• द्वीपा: विशेषण (Adjective of ‘उर्वी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सद्वीपा’ = बहुव्रीहि (द्वीपैः सहिता)

• स: with
• स: विशेषण (Prefixal qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-प्राय)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय; समासपूर्वपद (with)

• महीधरा: with mountains
• महीधरा: विशेषण (Adjective of ‘उर्वी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘समहीधरा’ = बहुव्रीहि (महीधरैः सहिता)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching a sage in the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Purāṇic cosmography: Earth bounded by the dark region (Tamasa)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It frames the cosmos as ordered yet bounded by tamasa (darkness/limitation), implying that the soul (paśu) must seek Shiva (Pati) to transcend the enclosing veils of ignorance and finitude.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By describing the vast but limited world-system, it indirectly points to Saguna Shiva as the immanent Lord who sustains worlds, while the Linga signifies the transcendence beyond tamasa and all measurable extents.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner light beyond tamasa, supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steadying practices like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance to reduce tamasic inertia.